Flash-light.



L. B. LINCOLN.

FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATIDN FILED APR.26, 191s.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915 f :INVENTOR.

A TTORNE YS.

LEO 1B. LINCOLN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLASH-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 19 15.

Application filed April 26, 1915. Serial No. 23,802.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO B. LINCOLN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Flash-Lights, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to produce a simple, attractive flash light particularly adapted to be made in small sizes, in simulation of pens, pencils orcigars, whereby they may be carried in the pocket, or be used as candles or be mounted in umbrellas, canes or the like.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; bu t,for a full understanding of my invention and of its object and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the device shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings I have illustrated two embodiments of my invention taking the form of long slender cylinders and, for the sake of brevity, I shall confine the detailed description to these specific shapes as it will readily be understood that the external appearance may be changed in any desired way and that the length and size may be changed in order to mount the device in or make it a part of an umbrella, cane or the like.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, 1 represents a metal tube into the ront end of which is secured a socket, 2, adapted to receive a miniature lamp, 3. In the rear end of'the tube there is screwed a cap, 4:, containing a spring, -5,.which extends beyond the inner edge of the cap into the tube. Just behind the inner end of the lamp is a sliding block, 6, of insulating material having therein a pin, 7, of conducting material,

' the pinextending through the block so as to be exposed at the front and at the rear.

Pins or push rods, 8 and 9, extend from the block transversely of and out through the walls of the tube. The pins serve as guiding supports for the block and also as actuating means therefor. Between the block and the cap in the rear end of the tube is a long battery, 10, having at the front end a projectlng central terminal, 11, and having its other terminal at the rear end, as is customary in batteries of this kind. The parts are so proportioned that the spring 5 is placed under tension when the cap is screwed 1n after the battery is in place, thus holding the front terminal against the block of insulatlng material and pressing this block agamst the rear end of the lamp. The insulating block is shorter than the diameter of the tubular shell so that it may be ;-moved back and forth. Upon pressing inwardly on the pin 8, the block will be pushed to "a point where the conducting pin 7 in the block lies between and engages with the terminal 11 and the contact at the rear end of the lamp;

thus causing the circuit through the lamp to be completed as follows: from the terminal 11, through the pin 7, the lamp, the socket 2, the shell 1, the cap 1 and sprin'gb back to the battery. The lamp will therefore be lighted when the pin 8 is pressed in and will remain lighted as long as the pin is not pushed out again. When the pin 9 is pressed in, the block is shifted to the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and the circuit through the lamp is broken.

It will be seen that the insulating block with its pin of conducting material and operating pins or rods constitutes a two-position switch which remains in each of its positions until it is pushed over to the other position, thus making it unnecessary for the user to hold his finger upon either of the v pins in order to keep the lamp lighted.

When a lamp of the kind just described is carried in the pocket it may happen that a slight accidental push on the pin 8 will shift the controlling switch to the lighting position. In order to prevent accidental lighting of the lamp in this way I have provided a small spring catch device for holding the controlling switch in the open position. In the specific form illustrated, this catch device comprises a fiat spring, 12, bent into the form of an 0 having the ends flattened, however, as indicated at 13 and 14:, and the two side members being bent inwardly at the middle as indicated at 15 for the pur pose of providing projections which may engage with notches, 16, in the sides of the block; the parts being so proportioned that the rojections 15 enter the notches in the blocE when the block is in the circuit-opening position. By flattening the ends of the spring and allowing it to engage with the interior walls of the shell, as illustrated, it

is prevented from turning and therefore 7 also holds the block against rotation.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only onespecific form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and. arrangements which come within the terms employed in the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a device of the character described,

I a shell, a lamp having a terminal exposed in the interior of the shell, a battery in the shell behind the lamp and having a terminal facing said lamp terminal, a contact piece of a size sufiicient to bridge the gap between said terminals, and means for-supporting said contact piece so as to permit it to be moved from a position in which it engages with both of said terminals to a position in which electrical continuity between said terminals is interrupted.

2. In a device of the character described, a shell, a lamp having a terminal exposed in the interior -'of the shell, a battery in the Y shell having a terminal on the side next to the lamp, a two-position switch device lyin between said terminals for making and breakin electrical connection between them, and pus rods projecting in opposite directions from said switch device to the exterior of the shell.

- 3. In a device of the character described,

4. In a device of the character described,

a shell, a lamp having a terminal exposed 1n the exterior of the shell, a battery in the shell behind the lamp and having a terminal facing the said lamp terminal, a block of insulating material arranged between and" movable transversely of said terminals, said block having a piece of conducting material therein for connecting said terminals togiethfir in a predetermined position of the 5. In. a device of the character described, 1

a shell, a lamp having a terminal exposed 1n A the interior of the shell, a battery in the shell behind the lamp andhaving a terminal facing the said lamp terminal, a block of insulating material arran ed between and movable transversely of said terminals, said block having a piece of conducting material therein for connecting said terminals toether in a predetermined position of the lock, and a-spring pressing said battery 1 against said block.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

LEO B. LINCOLN. 

